Jamesbrittenia plant named &#39;DANBRIT4&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Jamesbrittenia  plant named ‘DANBRIT4’ characterized by having 5-petalled flowers, measuring about 2.0 cm in diameter, with orange-red petals and corolla which is green-yellow at throat and orange at center; vigorous growth habit, which maintains a trailing, compact growth habit; early flowering response; and suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination planters and ground cover under full sunlight and slight shade.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE CLAIMED PLANT

Jamesbrittenia sp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DANBRIT4’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Jamesbrittenia plant, botanically known as Jamesbrittenia hybrida of the Scrophulariaceae family, and is hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘DANBRIT4’.

The new Jamesbrittenia cultivar is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Jamesbrittenia cultivar with large, orange-red flowers and trailing, compact growth habit.

The new Jamesbrittenia cultivar originated from open pollination of the female or seed parent, Jamesbrittenia sp. ‘ST-4-250’ (unpatented), by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in 2004 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The new Jamesbrittenia cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2005 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Jamesbrittenia cultivar by vegetative tip cuttings was first performed in March of 2005 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘DANBRIT4’, which in combination distinguish this Jamesbrittenia as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. 5-petalled flowers, measuring about 2.0 cm in diameter, with         orange-red petals and corolla which is green-yellow at throat         and orange at center;     -   2. Vigorous growth, which maintains a trailing, compact growth         habit;     -   3. Early flowering response; and     -   4. Suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination         planters and ground cover under full sunlight and slight shade.

Plants of ‘DANBRIT4’ differ from the plants of the female parental cultivar in the characteristics described in Table 1: TABLE 1 New Cultivar Female Parent Trait ‘DANBRIT4’ ‘ST-4-250’ Flower color Orange-Red group Red group RHS 34C RHS 42A Flower size Large, about 2.0 cm Medium, about 1.5 cm Leaf shape Ovate, Pinnatisect Cordate, Dentate Plant height About 10 cm About 15 cm

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Jamesbrittenia ‘DANBRIT4’ is Jamesbrittenia ‘Breeze Upright White’ (patented). In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, plants of the new Jamesbrittenia ‘DANBRIT4’ differed from plants of Jamesbrittenia ‘Breeze Upright White’ in the characteristics described in Table 2: TABLE 2 New Cultivar Comparison Cultivar Trait ‘DANBRIT4’ ‘Breeze Upright White’ Flower color Orange-Red group White group RHS 34C RHS 155C Flower size Large, about 2.0 cm Medium, about 1.6 cm Leaf shape Ovate, Pinnatisect Elliptic, Crenate Plant height About 10 cm About 25 cm

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Jamesbrittenia ‘DANBRIT4’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘DANBRIT4’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective a typical flowering plant of ‘DANBRIT4’ in a hanging planter, at 3 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of flowers and buds of a typical flowering plant of ‘DANBRIT4’, at 3 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Jamesbrittenia cultivar ‘DANBRIT4’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Jamesbrittenia cultivar as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Greenhouse temperature averages 18° C. at night and 24° C. day. Constant fertilization with a balanced NPK fertilizer at 200 ppm N level and that contains average levels of micronutrients with a slightly increased levels of iron should be used when growing ‘DANBRIT4’.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 12:00 noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the plant described is 3 months.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Jamesbrittenia sp. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Jamesbrittenia sp. ‘ST-4-250’             (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Open pollination. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tip cutting of side shoots.         -   Time and temperature to initiate roots.—About 7 to 10 days             at 18° C.         -   Time and temperature to produce a rooted cutting.—About 14             to 18 days at 18° C.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fine, Fibrous roots. -   Growing conditions:     -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight or slight shade.         -   Temperature.—During day: Range of 20° C. to 24° C. During             night: Range of 16° C. to 20° C.         -   Tolerance.—Tolerant to a low temperature of about 10° C. and             to a high temperature about 30° C.         -   Fertilization.—A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm             Nitrogen.         -   Growth regulators.—Unnecessary. -   Plant:     -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: About 10 cm. Spread:             About 50 cm.         -   Shape.—Rounded and Trailing.         -   Vigor.—Strong.         -   Branching habit.—Vigorously branched.

Lateral branches.— TABLE 3 Branch Characteristic Primary Secondary Length About 40 cm. About 25 cm. Diameter About 2 mm. About 1 mm. Internode Length About 2 cm. About 1.5 cm. Texture Velvety and sticky Velvety and sticky Pubescence Yes Yes Color Yellow-Green group, Yellow-Green group, RHS 146B RHS 146C

-   -   -   Crop time.—About 8 to 10 weeks for a flowering pot.         -   Fragrance.—Lemony.

-   Foliage:     -   -   Overall shape of leaf.—Ovate.         -   Base shape.—Acuminate.         -   Apex shape.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Pinnatisect.         -   Texture.—Velvety.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly present.         -   Leaf length.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Color of upper surface.—Mature leaf: Green group, RHS 137A.             Immature leaf: Green group, RHS 137B.         -   Color of lower surface.—Mature leaf: Green group, RHS 137C.             Immature leaf: Green group, RHS 137C.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: Green group, RHS 137C. Lower             surface: Green group, RHS 137C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color:             Green group, RHS 137A.

-   Flower description:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Spring throughout late fall.         -   Lastingness of the bloom.—Flowering of a single flower lasts             for about 7 days.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—About 200.         -   Flower size.—Diameter (spread): About 20 mm. Diameter at             lobes: About 20 mm. Diameter of corolla tube: About 2 mm.             Overall flower height: About 8 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Height: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Color:             Orange-Red group, RHS 34B.         -   Petals.—Overall Shape: Rounded and gameopetalous. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Fused. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 7 mm.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Velvety. Color: Upper surface, when             opening: Orange-Red group, RHS 34B. Upper surface, opened             flower: Orange-Red group, RHS 34C. Lower surface, when             opening: Orange-Red group, RHS 34C. Lower surface, opened             flower: Orange-Red group, RHS 34D.         -   Corolla throat color.—Green-Yellow group, RHS 1B. Corolla             center (where petals are fused).—Orange group, RHS 25B.         -   Calyx.—Appearance: Deeply 5 lobed.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5 Shape: Oblong. Apex: Obtuse. Base:             Fused. Margin: Entire. Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Upper surface color: Green group, RHS 137C. Lower             surface color: Green group, RHS 137C.         -   Pedicel.—Aspect: Slanted upward. Length: About 15 mm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: About 45° Color: Yellow-Green             group, RHS 146B.

-   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen.—Number: 4. Color: Yellow-Orange group, RHS 16A.         -   Anthers.—Color: Yellow-Orange group, RHS 16A. Shape and             length: Cylinder, About 1 mm.         -   Pollen.—Amount: Moderate. Color: Yellow-Orange group, RHS             16A.         -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1. Length: About 3 mm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Rounded. Color: Green group, RHS 143C.         -   Ovary.—Color: Green group, RHS 143D.

-   Seeds:     -   -   Width.—About 0.5 mm.         -   Length.—About 0.5 mm.         -   Shape.—Rounded.         -   Texture.—Rough.         -   Color.—Brown group, RHS 200C.

-   Fruit:     -   -   Width.—About 2 mm.         -   Length.—About 5 mm.         -   Shape.—Ellipsoid.         -   Texture.—Rough.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange group, RHS 166D.

-   Disease/pest resistance: No information is currently available.

-   Disease/pest susceptibility: Whiteflies; insecticidal soaps can     cause foliage burn. Drench with fungicide registered for pythium at     liner planting. 

1. A new and distinct Jamesbrittenia plant named ‘DANBRIT4’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 